An Illinois Small Claims Complaint is a legal document used to start a case in the Illinois small claims court system for the recovery of money or the return of personal property. This type of complaint is used when the amount in dispute is less than $10,000. The complaint is filed in the Circuit Court of the county in Illinois where the defendant (the person or business against whom the complaint is filed) resides or where the cause of action took place. There are two types of Illinois Small Claims Complaints: the Original Complaint and the Counter-Complaint. The Original Complaint is when the plaintiff (the person filing the complaint) is suing the defendant for money or the return of property. The Counter-Complaint is when the defendant is suing the plaintiff for a different reason. Both types of complaints must include the name and address of the plaintiff and defendant, the amount in dispute, and a description of the cause of action.